Our Mission
Our Commitment to the Community
To be an active participant in economic development, both locally and regionally, by helping assure the financial health of vital elements of Western and Central Virginia’s cultural quality of life.
Sustaining Impact Through Innovation
Center in the Square, along with its beneficiary organizations, generates over $30 million in annual economic impact for the Roanoke region.
We do this by providing space for six local arts and cultural organizations free of charge, along with The Roanoke Pinball Museum, Roanoke STARCADE, and Kids Square Children’s Museum which are Center owned and operated.
Local businesses also lease space from us, which in turn generates even more energy and vitality for downtown Roanoke. Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, The Candy Store, Ivory on Campbell bridal shop and Six and Sky restaurant now call our buildings home.
Center in the Square – A home for arts and culture
Center in the Square is more than just the famous mall of museums. It is a non-profit with significant investment in downtown Roanoke.
In addition to our primary building, which is home to Mill Mountain Theatre, The Science Museum of Western Virginia, Kids Square Children’s Museum, The Roanoke Pinball Museum and Roanoke STARCADE, Center in Square also owns and operates three other historic buildings. These buildings include: the historic Norfolk and Western Railway station, Center on Church located at 20 Church Avenue and the former Shenandoah Hotel on Campbell Avenue.
Since its inception more than four decades ago, Center in the Square has been driving downtown vitality by providing free space and utilities to other non-profits, so they can devote their resources to their causes without having to worry about keeping the lights on.
Today, Center in the Square provides free space to Mill Mountain Theatre, The Science Museum of Western Virginia, The Roanoke History Museum, The O. Winston Link Museum, The Roanoke Ballet Theatre and Opera Roanoke.
